The list of holdings follows a classification according to subject areas (classification system). The "mark", consisting of a combination of letters and numbers, is called a signature. The signature is usually on the spine of the book. Each signature exists only once.

Books

You take the desired books from the shelves yourself with the help of the shelfmark, read them on site or borrow them at the Service Point on presentation of your library card.
All books with a white or red adhesive strip on the spine (e.g. standard works, manuals, reference works) are excluded from borrowing. Copying machines and scanners are available.

Journals

The library continuously holds about 1,000 journals, the vast majority as online version (e-journal) with availability throughout the university network, as well as via VPN. Access can be provided, for example, via the electronic journals library (EZB) or, for some services, via special portals.

Print editions are freely accessible in the reading room (1st floor: current year) and in the compact magazine (UG: 1980-2014) of the central library and in the Helmholtzstraße library. Selected print magazines (before 1980) are placed in a closed magazine. They can be used after making an appointment via the Service Point Circulation.

Some of the printed journals are circulated first (a defined group of people receive such journals before anyone else). At the end of the year the periodicals are checked for completeness. Any missing information is added, then the individual issues are bound into annual volumes. These annual volumes are arranged according to signatures. The existing stock can be found in the Online-catalogue. Journals are not borrowable.

Audiovisual media

AV media (e.g. CD-ROM, DVD) are usually not set up in the reading room but are available at the Service Point Circulation.

Microforms

With the digital microform scanner you can re-enlarge microfilms and microfiches. After instruction by the kiz staff the processing is self-service. A valid chip card is required. Appointments and orders for re-enlargement are accepted at the Service Point Circulation.
If you only want to read microfiches, a reader is available.

Mobile devices

Mobile devices such as notebooks, tablets, e-book readers or beamers are handed out at the Service Point Circulation. However, these devices are only available to students and employees of Ulm University.